Problems · NHTSA complaints

2015 Kia Optima Hybrid problems

Owners filed 12 complaints about the 2015 Kia Optima Hybrid with NHTSA between Mar 2018 and Oct 2021. The most-cited component is engine (5).

Complaints
12
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine5
  2. Electrical system5
  3. Steering2
  4. Power train1
  5. Structure1
  6. Exterior lighting1
  7. Electronic stability control (esc)1
  8. Other / unknown1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20188
20193
20200
20211

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine

5 reports2 fires
“The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 30-45 MPH, she heard abnormal knocking sounds coming from the engine. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated she was able to continue to drive to her residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer also informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V907000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine) because the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 5, 2021EngineODI 11435565

Electrical system

5 reports1 fire
“* OCTOBER 2017 WHILE DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY CAR SLOWED DOWN. GOT OFF FREEWAY AND TURNED OFF CAR. CAR WOULD NOT START ANYMORE. KIA REPLACED HIGH VOLTAGE FUSE, HYBRID BATTERY, POWER RELAY. * MARCH 2018 CAR WAS TAKEN IN DUE TO HEV AND ENGINE LIGHT ON WHILE DRIVING. CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE. KIA REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. * MARCH 2018 CAR WAS RETURNED AFTER TRANSMISSION CHANGE AND 2 DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING CAR GAVE HEV AND ENGINE LIGHT ON. KIA SAID IT WAS A "LOOSE WIRE" FROM TRANSMISSION. * MARCH 2018 CAR GAVE HEV AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON WHILE DRIVING AND KIA REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN (2ND TIME IN 1 MONTH). * APRIL 2018 CHECK ENGINE AND HEV CODE CAME OUT WHILE DRIVING AND KIA REPLACED THE COMPUTER FROM ENGINE. *MARCH 2019 HEV AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON KIA REPLACED THE MAIN HARNESS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 18, 2019Electrical system, Unknown or other, EngineODI 11197210

Steering

2 reports
“I NOTICED THAT WHILE DRIVING PASS 35 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL GETS KINDA STUCK IN THE 12 O'CLOCK POSITION. IF I TRY TO STEER EITHER TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT IT GETS STUCK LITELY, NOW IT WILL NOT DO IT IF I'M MAKING A COMPLETE TURN! IT'S HARD DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE YOU CAN'T KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT IN THE LANE BECAUSE OF THE STEERING WHEEL STICKING. JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT IT DOES IT NOT ONLY ON THE HIGHWAY BUT ALSO ON CITY STREETS. IT'S ONLY HAPPENING AFTER I GO OVER APPROXIMATELY AFTER 35 MPH.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 1, 2018SteeringODI 11091290

Power train

1 report
“WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD BETWEEN 20 - 25MPH THE HYBRID WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH OVERHEAD VOICE STATING TO PULL OVER AND NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANY FURTHER. IN THE PROCESS OF PULLING OVER THE CAR PROCEEDED TO LOSE ALL POWER. ELECTRICAL WITHIN CAR (LIGHTS, RADIO, ETC.) REMAINED ON BUT CAR WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AND ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY OFF. THE CAUSE OF THE POWER LOSS IS STILL UNKNOWN, HOWEVER, WE WERE RUNNING ON HYBRID POWER AT THE TIME. THIS, WITH THE HYBRID MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE HYBRID SYSTEM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 24, 2019Power trainODI 11203438

Structure

1 report
“ANTENNA COVER FELL OFF WHILE CAR WAS REVERSING FROM HOME DRIVE-WAY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 22, 2018StructureODI 11121645

Exterior lighting

1 report
“WHILE DRIVING, BOTH HEADLIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING THEN WENT OUT COMPLETELY, FOG LIGHTS, HIGH BEAM ALL ARE FINE, TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP, TOLD IT NEEDED NEW HEADLIGHTS, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT THE ISSUE, RESEARCHED ONLINE AND SEEN THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY YEAR FOR HEADLIGHT ISSUES. PLEASE, HOW DO I GET THI S RESOLVED. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT NEVER MENTIONED A RECALL”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 20, 2018Exterior lightingODI 11096903
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.